Leaders of the SEC pack

Published: Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 11:18 p.m.

Since the mid-2000's, the Southeastern Conference has become the premier league in college football.

From Alabama to Auburn to LSU and Florida, the BCS national champions have come from the SEC over the past few seasons.

From week to week, no conference plays defense or produces as many NFL caliber players like the SEC.

Over the past five seasons, the University of Southern California has produced the most NFL players drafted into the league.

Despite suffering the sting of an NCAA investigation, mainly centered around former USC and New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, and the strict penalties following the investigation, the Trojans have produced 34 draft choices to the NFL over the past five seasons. Six of those players were first round selections.

The Trojans have produced seven players over the past two drafts.

Alabama, LSU and Georgia each had more than seven players picked in this year's NFL draft.

But with a reduction of scholarships and a poor selection of a head coach in Lane Kiffin, the Trojans will soon be passed by the SEC's top programs.

Over the past five seasons, Nick Saban and Alabama have produced 33 players drafted into the NFL, including 14 first-round picks in that frame.

There are various opinions on Miles' coaching expertise, but you can't argue that he has done a very good job filling in the huge moccasins left over by Saban at LSU and the Tigers have emerged, like Alabama, as one of the college football's marquee name schools.

It is never easy to walk in someone's shadow and follow a program-builder like Saban was at LSU, but say what you will, Miles has done a very good job attracting talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. His staff has done a very good job developing that talent defensively.

But Saban also left his mark at LSU from 2004-2008. During his tenure in Baton Rouge, the Tigers had 29 players drafted and eight first-round selections.

Last month, LSU set a new record by having nine players drafted and an additional seven other players signed free agent contracts, but Miles and his staff could again be a huge talent vein to the NFL in 2014.

And if you throw in highly-rated junior eligible players like defensive tackles Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson, offensive tackle La'el Collins, halfbacks Jeremy Hill and Kenny Hilliard and wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, the Tigers could break this year's mark of the most draft choices in one season.

Georgia has tied LSU with 32 players that were drafted by the NFL in that five-year frame, and the Bulldogs have produced five first-round pick selections.

While Saban and Miles have battled it out for the SEC championships and for the best recruits in the Deep South over the last few seasons, they both have had to defeat Georgia to get to the national championship game.

Georgia coach Mark Richt has become college football's version of Marty Schottenheimer. Richt has posted a 46-21 record the past five seasons at Georgia, but he hasn't been able to get his team to college football's championship game.

But Richt and his staff have done a very good job recruiting the football talent rich state of Georgia.

From 2009-2013, the three SEC juggernaut schools have produced 97 players to the NFL.

In a conference that is loaded with great coaches and a tremendous amount of football talent, Alabama, LSU and Georgia have been the kings of producing NFL talent, but with Texas A&M, Florida, South Carolina and an emerging Ole Miss following close behind, the pressure to win and recruit the best talent in the land will again lay in the hands of Saban, Miles and Richt.

WAGERING ON THE NEXT NFL CHAMP

This is the time of year in Las Vegas where you can get odds on just about anything concerning the NFL and college football.

While many scoff at the oddsmakers in Las Vegas, they aren't building those really nice casinos because they lose money.

They have the best oddsmakers in the sporting world working for them and it is interesting to see them post their latest odds for teams to win Super Bowl XLVIII.

The favorite to win Super Bowl XLVIII is the San Francisco 49ers at 6/1.

The 49ers are followed by the Denver Broncos at 15/2, the New England Patriots 8/1, the Seattle Seahawks 9/1, the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers 12/1, the Houston Texans 18/1, along with the New Orleans Saints at 18/1.

The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens are 20/1, along with the New York Giants.

GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK

One wager that really caught my eye was the over/under on sacks in 2013 for some of the top rookie pass rushers.

Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah total to wager on for sacks in 2013 is 4 1/2.

Former LSU standout and now Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo's number is 3.

Former Georgia All-SEC and All-American outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who was selected one pick later than the New Orleans Saints picked Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro by the Pittsburgh Steelers, his number is 8.

DOES GETTING OLDER EQUAL MORE MONEY?

As players hit 30 years of age or older, which doesn't apply to quarterbacks, the money they made in their 20's is not nearly the same.

We have all seen veteran players, like Saints defensive end Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma, take substantial pay cuts to stay with their respective teams.

This offseason, many veteran players saw the free agent money dry up fast, and once you hit that certain age threshold for a player, it is a substantial pay reduction.

But on Friday, former Indianapolis Colts defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney had patience pay off for him. One of the league's premier pass rushers agreed to a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers that carries a base value of $8.75 million.

The 33-year old Freeney, who has recorded 107 1/2 quarterback sacks since entering the league in 2002, has a contract with the Chargers that carries a maximum value of $13.35 million, with $4.6 million tied exclusively to sacks.

In late March, 34-year old Ed Reed, who will go down as one of — if not the — greatest free safety of all-time, left the Baltimore Ravens and signed a 3-year contract worth $15 million dollars and $5 million was guaranteed with the Houston Texans.

<p>Since the mid-2000's, the Southeastern Conference has become the premier league in college football. </p><p>From Alabama to Auburn to LSU and Florida, the BCS national champions have come from the SEC over the past few seasons.</p><p>From week to week, no conference plays defense or produces as many NFL caliber players like the SEC.</p><p>Over the past five seasons, the University of Southern California has produced the most NFL players drafted into the league.</p><p>Despite suffering the sting of an NCAA investigation, mainly centered around former USC and New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, and the strict penalties following the investigation, the Trojans have produced 34 draft choices to the NFL over the past five seasons. Six of those players were first round selections. </p><p>The Trojans have produced seven players over the past two drafts.</p><p>Alabama, LSU and Georgia each had more than seven players picked in this year's NFL draft.</p><p>But with a reduction of scholarships and a poor selection of a head coach in Lane Kiffin, the Trojans will soon be passed by the SEC's top programs. </p><p>Over the past five seasons, Nick Saban and Alabama have produced 33 players drafted into the NFL, including 14 first-round picks in that frame.</p><p>Those first-round selections from Alabama are cornerback Dee Milliner, offensive guard Chance Warmack, offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, halfback Trent Richardson, safety Mark Barron, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, linebacker Dont'a Hightower, defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, wide receiver Julio Jones, offensive guard James Carpenter, halfback Mark Ingram, linebacker Rolando McClain, cornerback Kareem Jackson and offensive tackle Andre Smith.</p><p>Before Saban landed in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide's last first-round picks were in 2000 with offensive tackle Chris Samuels and halfback Shaun Alexander.</p><p>And it would take 24 years of previous drafts (1985-2008) for Alabama to tie Saban's mark of 14 first round draft choices in five years.</p><p>Over the past five seasons, Les Miles and LSU have produced 32 draft choices to the NFL and six of them were first-round picks.</p><p>Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, safety Eric Reid, cornerback Morris Claiborne, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, cornerback Patrick Peterson and defensive end Tyson Jackson were all selected in the opening round of the draft. All six of LSU's first-round picks were defensive players.</p><p>There are various opinions on Miles' coaching expertise, but you can't argue that he has done a very good job filling in the huge moccasins left over by Saban at LSU and the Tigers have emerged, like Alabama, as one of the college football's marquee name schools.</p><p>It is never easy to walk in someone's shadow and follow a program-builder like Saban was at LSU, but say what you will, Miles has done a very good job attracting talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. His staff has done a very good job developing that talent defensively.</p><p>But Saban also left his mark at LSU from 2004-2008. During his tenure in Baton Rouge, the Tigers had 29 players drafted and eight first-round selections. </p><p>Last month, LSU set a new record by having nine players drafted and an additional seven other players signed free agent contracts, but Miles and his staff could again be a huge talent vein to the NFL in 2014.</p><p>Seven senior players — halfback Alfred Blue, quarterback Zach Mettenberger, fullback J.C. Copeland, offensive guard Josh Williford, outside linebacker Tahj Jones, outside/middle linebacker Lamin Barrow and safety Craig Loston — all have the potential to get selected in the 2014 NFL draft.</p><p>And if you throw in highly-rated junior eligible players like defensive tackles Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson, offensive tackle La'el Collins, halfbacks Jeremy Hill and Kenny Hilliard and wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, the Tigers could break this year's mark of the most draft choices in one season.</p><p>Georgia has tied LSU with 32 players that were drafted by the NFL in that five-year frame, and the Bulldogs have produced five first-round pick selections.</p><p>While Saban and Miles have battled it out for the SEC championships and for the best recruits in the Deep South over the last few seasons, they both have had to defeat Georgia to get to the national championship game.</p><p>Georgia coach Mark Richt has become college football's version of Marty Schottenheimer. Richt has posted a 46-21 record the past five seasons at Georgia, but he hasn't been able to get his team to college football's championship game.</p><p>But Richt and his staff have done a very good job recruiting the football talent rich state of Georgia.</p><p>From 2009-2013, the three SEC juggernaut schools have produced 97 players to the NFL.</p><p>In a conference that is loaded with great coaches and a tremendous amount of football talent, Alabama, LSU and Georgia have been the kings of producing NFL talent, but with Texas A&M, Florida, South Carolina and an emerging Ole Miss following close behind, the pressure to win and recruit the best talent in the land will again lay in the hands of Saban, Miles and Richt.</p><p>WAGERING ON THE NEXT NFL CHAMP</p><p>This is the time of year in Las Vegas where you can get odds on just about anything concerning the NFL and college football.</p><p>While many scoff at the oddsmakers in Las Vegas, they aren't building those really nice casinos because they lose money.</p><p>They have the best oddsmakers in the sporting world working for them and it is interesting to see them post their latest odds for teams to win Super Bowl XLVIII.</p><p>The favorite to win Super Bowl XLVIII is the San Francisco 49ers at 6/1.</p><p>The 49ers are followed by the Denver Broncos at 15/2, the New England Patriots 8/1, the Seattle Seahawks 9/1, the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers 12/1, the Houston Texans 18/1, along with the New Orleans Saints at 18/1.</p><p>The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens are 20/1, along with the New York Giants.</p><p>GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK</p><p>One wager that really caught my eye was the over/under on sacks in 2013 for some of the top rookie pass rushers.</p><p>Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah total to wager on for sacks in 2013 is 4 1/2. </p><p>Former LSU standout and now Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo's number is 3.</p><p>Former Georgia All-SEC and All-American outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who was selected one pick later than the New Orleans Saints picked Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro by the Pittsburgh Steelers, his number is 8.</p><p>DOES GETTING OLDER EQUAL MORE MONEY?</p><p>As players hit 30 years of age or older, which doesn't apply to quarterbacks, the money they made in their 20's is not nearly the same.</p><p>We have all seen veteran players, like Saints defensive end Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma, take substantial pay cuts to stay with their respective teams.</p><p>This offseason, many veteran players saw the free agent money dry up fast, and once you hit that certain age threshold for a player, it is a substantial pay reduction.</p><p>But on Friday, former Indianapolis Colts defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney had patience pay off for him. One of the league's premier pass rushers agreed to a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers that carries a base value of $8.75 million. </p><p>The 33-year old Freeney, who has recorded 107 1/2 quarterback sacks since entering the league in 2002, has a contract with the Chargers that carries a maximum value of $13.35 million, with $4.6 million tied exclusively to sacks. </p><p>In late March, 34-year old Ed Reed, who will go down as one of — if not the — greatest free safety of all-time, left the Baltimore Ravens and signed a 3-year contract worth $15 million dollars and $5 million was guaranteed with the Houston Texans.</p><p>Now Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson waits for a big money offer to come his way.</p><p>MY BUDDY D. MOMENT OF THE WEEK</p><p>On Thursday, the New Orleans Saints announced that they had signed defensive tackle Isaako (e-saw-AH-co) AAitui (ah-ah-2-e) to a free agent contract.</p><p>The former UNLV defensive tackle had previously played for both the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.</p><p>My former WWL-870 radio colleague Buddy Diliberto, who had trouble with Mitsubishi and Donte Stallworth (or as Buddy would say Stallpepper), would have really butchered up the name of this signee.</p><p>Buddy, I thought about you instantly when they made that signing.</p><p>I know somewhere looking down on us from above, Buddy D. is having a really good laugh about this.</p><p>NFL analyst Mike Detillier is based in Raceland.</p>